COURSE DESCRIPTION:In this course, we will explore the first voices in
feminist theology and how they changed the face of theology.We will begin with three central figures in feminist
theology—Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Sallie McFague, and Rosemary
Radford Ruether—and trace their influence on contemporary voices
from a variety of perspectives—African American,Asian, Mujerista, and
two-thirds world theologies.We will note how these contemporary voices both draw from and
critique the tradition of feminist theology.

Further
instruction for written assignments will be given in class, along
with a bibliography and possible final paper topics. The final
paper should conform to the Seminary’s “General Guidelines for
a Research Paper.

Student
presentations will take place during the “Emerging Voices”
section of the course.Students
will choose which of the final four texts they wish to present.They will be responsible for presenting the week’s
reading, including background and context and an overview of the
reading and analysis of the argument.They will also provide discussion questions and lead the
class in conversation about the text and the particular
theological voice it represents.

GRADING
POLICY

See “General
Guidelines” for criteria for the evaluation of papers.Grading scale is:

Reading:Christ and Plaskow, eds., “The Human Situation,”
“After the Death of God the Father,” “Eve and Adam,”
“Women in the Early Christian Movement,” “What Became of
God the Mother?” “Feminist Spirituality, Christian Identity,
and Catholic Vision,” “Female God Language in a Jewish
Context,” “The Coming of Lilith,” “Why Speak About
God?” “Why Women Need the Goddess.”Please also read the introductory comments for each of
the four sections of the book.

EARLY FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES

September
28:Feminist Biblical
Interpretation I

Reading:Fiorenza, Bread Not
Stone, Chapters 1-3

October
5:Feminist Biblical
Interpretation II

Reading:Fiorenza, Bread Not
Stone, Chapters 4-6

October
12:Religious
Language and Feminism I

Reading:McFague, Metaphorical
Theology, Chapters 1-3

October
19:Religious
Language and Feminism II

Reading:McFague, Metaphorical
Theology, Chapters 4, 5, and Conclusion

October
26:Feminist Theology
I

Reading:Ruether, Sexism and
God-Talk, Midrash and Chapters 1-4

November
2:Feminist Theology
II

Reading:Ruether, Sexism and
God-Talk, Chapters 5-10

EMERGING FEMINIST VOICES

November
9:Womanist Theology

Reading:Williams, Sisters in the Wilderness, selections given in class.

November
16:African Women’s
Theology

Reading:Oduyoye, Daughters of
Anowa, selections given in class.

November
23:Reading Week:No Class

November
30:Asian Women’s
Theology

Reading:Kyung, Struggle to be
the Sun Again, selections given in class.